The division rival Rays were active on the trade market yesterday in another edition of sending their more experienced (read: expensive) players away, with longtime second baseman Brandon Lowe going to
the Pirates as part of a three-team trade and pitcher Shane Baz going to the Orioles for four prospects and a 2026 Competitive Balance Round draft pick. Busy! Are the Yankees working on something then? Maybe? Bueller?
Today on the site, Sam will ponder whether it makes sense to bring aboard a soon-to-be-43-year-old Justin Verlander as a free agent addition to the rotation in wake of his somewhat-resurgent second half in San Francisco, and Matt will take a page from the holiday theme that surrounds us by curating naughty and nice lists for 2025 Yankees. Also, Estevão will continue our 50 Most Notable Yankees Free Agents series with a look back at infamous 1982 ”Bronx Burners” experiment and the player most associated with it, Dave Collins.
Questions/Prompts:
1. Do you think the Orioles gave up too much to get Shane Baz from the Rays?
2. Will Brandon Lowe actually help the Pirates do anything while they still have Paul Skenes? Or is it shuffling deck chairs?
